Editorial: Bars, clubs should have clean air

It's time to put an end to smoking inside bars, clubs and casinos, where the health of non-smoking employees is threatened by second-hand smoke.

Patrons are free to come and go, but bartenders, wait staff and other employees are a captive audience, along with the musicians who are often the main attraction at a night spot.

Some might say these employees and musicians are free to work elsewhere, but in these troubled economic times, most people can't afford to risk losing a paying job.

Grammy winner Chubby Carrier is leading the charge locally in the effort to put a stop to smoke-filled bars. Carrier told The Daily Advertiser most musicians tell him privately they hope the effort will succeed - even smokers who fret about the effects of repeated exposure to smoke on their instruments and expensive amps - but only a few are vocal about it because they fear alienating their fans who smoke. The same is true of bar owners, Carrier said.

Among the few who are vocal on the subject are David Egan and Eric Adcock. They, along with Carrier, are members of Let's Be Totally Clear, a campaign devoted strictly to the cause of smoke-free bars and clubs. It is a sub-campaign of the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living, in turn a project of the non-profit Louisiana Public Health Institute.

The fears of lost business are unfounded. According to studies from around the nation, smoking bans have little effect on business for bars, clubs and casinos. In many cases, nonsmokers who had been staying away begin to frequent the newly smoke-free establishments.

In 2004, one year after New York City's comprehensive smoking ban went into effect, a study by the city in conjunction with a small business organization found that revenues at bars and restaurants were up, as was the number of liquor licenses issued. A study by the Washington State Department of Revenue showed that gross receipts for bars and taverns had gone up 20.3 percent in 2007 after a smoking ban went into effect.

Carrier presented his case at a recent Lafayette City-Parish Council meeting, but was unsuccessful in convincing the council.

Well, not entirely. District 2 Council Member Jay Castille said if the matter ever goes to a vote, he will support the smoking ban.

District 7 Council Member Don Bertrand said he is "all for it," but he wants "bars to do it on their own, rather than through intervention."

There is the school of thought that such an ordinance would infringe too heavily on personal choice and seek to control behavior. But a total ban on smoking is not at issue - just smoking where secondhand smoke will affect bystanders.

And besides, we live with several laws that dictate personal behavior, such as public decency laws that ban public nudity and laws that restrict loud music and private parties that get too noisy for neighbors.

Lafayette prides itself on being a progressive community, but other cities have beaten us to the punch in this arena. A smoking ban in bars and clubs just went into effect this week in the cities of Monroe, West Monroe and all of Ouachita Parish. In Alexandria, the ban has been in place for nearly three years.

We urge the members of the Lafayette City-Parish Council to revisit this issue. Some have said they're for it in spirit. Let their actions reflect that spirit.

Let's add this to the long list of things of which we are justly proud. Let's protect the health and comfort of those who serve drinks and entertain us at our favorite establishments.

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Editorial: Bars, clubs should have clean air

It's time to put an end to smoking inside bars, clubs and casinos, where the health of non-smoking employees is threatened by second-hand smoke.